CEO Update - March 2013

BARGAINING

Following 12 months of bargaining and a marathon 14 consecutive days of negotiations in February and the beginning of March, we were able to reach tentative two-year agreements for Community Living Services and General Services.  The tentative agreements deliver on the bargaining priorities for employers and the bargaining teams are recommending ratification.  

Entering negotiations the three key priorities for employers were recruitment and retention, controlling benefit costs and management flexibility and these agreements provide improvements in all three areas.

The agreements provide for increases in compensation for employees that starts to close the gap with Community Health, institutes programs to control the rising cost of benefits and long term disability, and increases management flexibility in a number of areas. Increases to compensation are funded through savings identified under the cooperative gains mandate.

Overall our bargaining teams are happy that we were able to reach fair and affordable collective agreements that meet the needs of the sector and ensures no further service disruptions will occur for the length of the agreements.

A summary of the changes to the agreements is available on our website (http://ow.ly/iQ8IH) and the complete ratification information package will be posted to the website at the end of the week.  

Aboriginal Services negotiations are scheduled to continue March 19^th and we are hopeful we will reach a tentative agreement before the end of month.

On behalf of Peter Cameron our chief negotiator and CSSEA staff assigned to bargaining,  I want to thank the bargaining team members for their long hours of work and their dedication in helping us reach a negotiated deal in Community Living Services and General Services and hopefully soon in Aboriginal Services.  

RATIFICATION INFORMATION MEETINGS

To help answer your questions and explain the changes in the tentative agreements, ratification information meetings have been scheduled around the province.

At these meetings, members of the bargaining teams, CSSEA staff and I will provide a detailed explanation of the changes and answer all of your questions regarding the tentative agreement.

We encourage decision makers from your organization – including executive directors, chief executive officers, board members and senior management to attend the meeting closest to you. 

To register for a meeting visit: http://ow.ly/iQ93Z

HEALTHCARE BENEFIT TRUST SEEKING TRUSTEE

The Health Employers Association of BC (HEABC) and the Healthcare Benefit Trust (HBT) are seeking a qualified candidate from the community social services sector to replace Carol Metz Murray, Executive Director of the Tri-City Transitions Society on the HBT Board of Trustees. The candidate selected will help ensure the trust is administered and managed responsibly.

For more information please review the letter from HEABC and HBT detailing the qualifications required and outlining the process to be considered for the vacancy.

HBT/HEABC Letter: http://ow.ly/iQ94M

DEPARTING STAFF

At the end of March, Alexia Jones, Legal Advocate and Manager of Aboriginal Services will be leaving CSSEA for a position at another organization. More information about her replacement should be available in my next update.  In the interim, your backup consultant will be your primary contact.

Please join me in wishing Alexia all the best in her new position. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Jessica Gregory at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

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